Canada consumer goods

Canada clamps down on sweetened alcoholic drinks

March 21st 2018 | Canada | Consumer goods

Health Canada on March 19th asked food and drug officials to look into ways of limiting the sale of highly sweetened alcoholic drinks, particularly those with an alcohol content of 7-12%. The move comes weeks after the death of a 14-year-old girl in Quebec was linked to the consumption of sweetened alcoholic drinks.

The proposal seeks to limit the maximum size of a single serving of such drinks as well as the alcohol content in them. Health Canada has sought feedback from the industry and other stakeholders by May 3rd. It has also asked them to consider changing the way they advertise and market such drinks, to reduce the possible risks from their sale. Health Canada will now meet with officials from provincial and territorial governments over the next few weeks to discuss the labelling and marketing of such products.

The House of Commons also passed a motion by the New Democratic Party calling for a study on the impact of such alcoholic drinks, which are often caffeinated, on teenagers. The findings of the study will be submitted before the House by June.

Athena Gervais was found dead on March 1st after reportedly stealing cans of a sweetened alcoholic drink and drinking them before leaving school. A coroners' report confirmed that the girl had consumed drinks with an alcohol content of 11.9%. The Quebec government subsequently ordered all grocery stores to suspend the sale of such products.